Missing seven-year-old boy dies after fall from cliffs

Tragic: The boy fell from cliffs on the coast near Silvercliff Caravan Park in Ballycastle (Image: Philip Hay / Flickr)

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A seven-year-old boy has died after falling from cliffs.

The boy had been missing for at least an hour on Sunday evening before he was found near Ballycastle, County Atrim.

Police, the Coastguard and RNLI rescuers had launched a major search for the child.

He was winched into a helicopter and taken to hospital but sadly died from his injuries.

It is understood the boy had been playing with friends near a holiday park before he fell from the cliffs.

A popular tourist destination, the cliffs reach a height of 365 feet in parts and offer panoramic views of the coast.

An American tourist died after falling from the same cliffs last month.

Royal Navy Helicopter (Image: Getty)

At the time, a local councillor said there were "substantial warning systems" in place

But Padraig Pearse McShane told the Belfast Telegraph: "Our coastline is splendid and we want to make sure that visitors when they are attracted to it that they are given safe passage.

"And to the best of anybody's ability charged with looking after the coastline, there are substantial warning systems in place for that to alert people to the dangers. Unfortunately you can't make it 100% safe."

A PSNI spokesman said: "Shortly before 7.15pm, it was reported that the boy fell from a cliff into the sea.

"Northern Ireland Coastguard recovered the boy from the sea and he was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but later died as a result of his injuries.

"Inquiries are continuing."

A statement on the Belfast Coastguard Facebook page reads: "Belfast Coastguard coordinated the search this evening for a child who was missing near cliffs close to the Silvercliff Caravan Park at Ballycastle.

"The Ballycastle and Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Teams, a Police helicopter, the Royal Navy rescue helicopter from Prestwick and the Portrush and Red Bay RNLI lifeboats all searched for the missing child after Belfast Coastguard received reports that the child was missing.

"The child was found at the base of the cliffs and has been taken by the RN helicopter to Coleraine Hospital."